Fashion has been a lifelong passion for Anna Campbell and will be taking her on an exciting journey next week, when she will travel to Australia to compete in the esteemed Lexus Melbourne Cup Carnival’s Fashion in the Field competition.

Campbell has been an avid long-time supporter and competitor in the Fashion In The Field competitions in New Zealand, and jumped at the opportunity to enter the International Digital competition for the prestigious Flemington event.

The Victoria Racing Club announced earlier in the spring they would be opening Australia’s most elusive race wear competition to global fashion enthusiasts via digital entry, where three applicants for each of the ‘Best Dressed’ and ‘Best Suited’ categories would be selected and flown to Flemington to experience the incredible atmosphere of Cup Week.

Campbell’s eye-catching blue suit reigned supreme in the ‘Best Suited’ category, an outfit she had put together for Sydney’s The Everest raceday in October.

“It was a big surprise, I knew for a few days and couldn’t tell anyone, the rules were very strict about any leakage getting out,” she said.

“I knew the competition was on because it’s the second year they’ve had digital entrants, last year they had three winners in each of the Suit and Dress categories, but this year they’ve split us off from the Australians which made it a bit more interesting.

“I already had the outfit ready because I wore it to The Everest, I thought I may as well take some pictures before I wear it.”

Campbell was delighted to receive the call she had been among the winners of the international competition, alongside participants from the USA, and regional Australia.

“There will be a big line-up of 13 for each category, so just getting into the finals is a buzz, I don’t expect to go any further but it’s amazing to be there,” she said.

“The prize is amazing just to attend the competition, we receive flights and accommodation for the Melbourne Cup Carnival and are flown over the day before Cup Day (Monday), and attend the Melbourne Cup Cocktail Evening at Government House that night which we get to take a partner too. For Melbourne Cup and Oaks Day, we get transfers and VIP area at the races as well which is pretty nice.

“It’s an amazing prize and it’s made the trip much more fun really, having the perks with it.”

The VRC Kennedy Oaks Day is held on Thursday 9th November during Melbourne Cup Week, where Campbell will compete in the Grand Final for a lucrative prize pool worth over $350,000. Overall winners in each of the categories will earn a $45,000 cash purse, alongside further prizes courtesy of the VRC sponsors.

Internationally-renowned models Lady Eliza Spencer and Lady Amelia Spencer are ambassadors for the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival, and will be on the judges panel for the Fashion in the Field event.

“Australia really incorporates the fashion, it’s a huge part of it and all of the celebrities and Instagrammer’s get a lot of press around it and it’s kept alive.”

Campbell shares her love of fashion with daughter Eleanor who also is a successful Fashion In The Fields competitor, notably being victorious in the ‘Prix de Fashion’ last year, and was awarded the Melbourne Cup Carnival trip as part of her prize package.

“My daughter won the Prix de Fashion in New Zealand, so we’ve done this trip last year, and we think blue may be our lucky colour because she won wearing this colour as well,” she said.

“We love it, my family wears farm clothes most of our lives so we get to go from farm fashion to full-on fashion, it keeps us excited with something to look forward too.

“We always look forward to a Cup Week, when you can go to a place for a whole week such as Christchurch or Melbourne. It’s a lot of outfits to plan for but it’s fun when you can do a few racedays in a row.

“It’s nice to have a creative outlet, you’re always trying to find the next accessory or something someone else hasn’t got.”

Fashion isn’t the only avenue in racing Campbell is involved in, and Stephen Marsh’s innovative all-ladies ‘Heels & Hooves Syndicate’ gave her an opportunity to be further involved in the thoroughbred side of the industry.

“I saw the syndicate advertised, I liked the sound of an all-ladies ownership and it was especially encouraging with the champagne lunch to meet the fillies’, the extras really caught my eye,” she said.

The syndicate currently races two Pierro fillies, including a three-year-old out of Australian mare Cancel called Moet Down, who has recorded two fourth placings in black-type events, most recently behind star gelding Crocetti in the Gr.3 Northland Breeder’s Stakes (1200m).

A half-sister to Madame Pommery, Moet Down was purchased at the 2022 Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale out of Coolmore, where the syndicate returned this year to purchase their second progeny of Pierro out of Tyreel Stud, a filly out of Rockolicious.

“You get sucked in to going back again, it’s a bit addictive, a bit like fashion,” Campbell said.

“It’s nice to combine the two, a lot of people don’t realise that just because we dress up and enjoy this part of it, a lot of us have interest in the horses and part-ownerships as well.

“We have the perfect mix of racing and fashion.”